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This book is the distillation of so many conversations I've had about mystery fiction. The subtitle for THEY DIED IN VAIN is "Overlooked, Underappreciated and Forgotten Mystery Novels". And I think you'll agree, that covers a lot of ground. So many readers wonder why their favorite writer isn't better known, why such-and-such a book didn't win awards. In this collection of essays by critics, booksellers, fans, the reader is offered a list of possible candidates for that list -- these are underappreciated books. The rules were for contributors to pick works that they believe merited more attention. Editor Huang accurately states that the selections are "idiosyncratic and personal" and I wouldn't have it any other way. This is a book that is best read in small doses, but only so you don't get confused and so you have time to find a recommended book. The essays are short enough that I will read all of them, even those that promote a book that I didn't like when I read it. Certain contributors are after my own heart; Maryelizabeth Hart and Elizabeth Baldwin discuss Wendy Hornsby's Midnight Baby, a book I loved in a terrific series featuring Maggie McGowan. One of Sue Feder's picks was the Pronzini/Muller collaboration Beyond the Grave, a book I recently reread for probably the fifth time. Other authors represented include Barbara Paul, Philip Macdonald, Donna Leon, Cyril Hare, names I knew and didn't know. Essayists include many long-time fans and friends of mine, informed readers, articulate and opinionated. Titles range from books from 2000, like Brigitte Aubert's Death In The Woods to books written way over 50 years ago, as far back as Anna Katherine Green, sometimes referred to as one of the first successful women mystery writers. And no big surprise, many of the book are out of print, which might frustrate some, but, well, I'm a big booster of the public library system and interlibrary loans. Kudos to the contributors who not only took time to think this topic over, but who also, like Jill Hinckley, risked rereading a well-loved book only to worry that maybe it wasn't that magical after 11 years (and Hinckley was still happy with her choice). The writers make solid cases for their choices. Books range from private eye to cozy to intriguing amateur sleuth (David Crossman's Winston Crisp, a former code breaker, is from A Show Of Hands, another book I simply never have heard of, from a writer I never heard of. Cool! I think it's impossible to look at, skim, or read THEY DIED IN VAIN without thinking what essay you would write (Jim Huang might not be ready to edit volume two, but I hope he's thinking about it. After all, the major flaw with this book as I told him at Left Coast Crime recently, was that he hadn't asked ME for a contribution. Might I mention that Jim Huang is a very gracious guy? Besides, how can you not love a guy who quotes Lina Lamont in his introduction). So go ahead, what's your candidate? You get to choose two authors, and only one example of that author's work. It can be any mystery writer who just hasn't made it as big as you think they should have. There are good contributor notes at the back, and a checklist with publishing information on each chosen book. I'll be amazed if you can't find something new to read, and lots to think about, after spending time with this lovely book. As for me? I'm drafting my essays now about Neil Albert's Dead March and Carolyn Wheat's Dead Man's Thoughts. No wait . . . what about Dymmoch's The Man Who Understood Cats? Or Abigail Padgettt. Oh, wait, what about Keith Snyder? Anyway, I gotta go, I got books to read.
Reviewed by Andi Shechter, April 2002
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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